My name is Syndi Nguyen, a creative designer based in New York City.
Nguyen & Where is my personal archive, a living map of meals, moments, and memories collected over time. This platform is rooted in a lifelong love of food, culture, and connection.
Born in Vietnam and raised across many places, I developed a broad and curious palate early on. I come from a big family, and every Sunday or holiday is a reason to gather with the Nguyens. Food is at the center of everything. It is how we connect.
It is always:
"What’s Bác Dung cooking?"
"What’s Chú Hai bringing?"
"Come over, I made something. Let’s eat."
Food wasn’t just food. It was storytelling.
It's a big deal in the Nguyen's family haha.
Through Nguyen & Where, I invite you to explore dining as a cultural experience, one that reflects place, memory, and meaning. This platform exists at the intersection of creativity, culinary discovery, and visual storytelling. Capturing not just where we eat, but why it matters.
The Street is a Table
In Vietnam, some of the best meals are found not in restaurants, but on sidewalks. A low plastic stool, a steaming bowl of phở, and the city humming around you. This is everyday dining. It’s fast, flavorful, and full of life. Street food is not just convenient; it’s a craft passed down through generations, often with recipes too personal to be written down.
A Land of Layers
Vietnam’s history is as rich and complex as its cuisine. Shaped by centuries of dynasties, colonization, war, and resilience. From ancient kingdoms to French Indochina and reunification, each era has left its mark on the culture and palate. Today, Vietnam is a country in motion, modern cities pulse with energy, while quiet villages carries generations of tradition.
Food as Legacy
Vietnamese food is inseparable from the land and the people. It’s a cuisine built on balance; hot and cool, fresh and fermented. From the delicate herbs of the north to the bold, sweet-savory flavors of the south, every region tells its own story. Meals are communal, often served family-style, where conversation flows as freely as the nước mắm.
